The Baddest of George Thorogood and the Destroyers

The aptly-titled The Baddest of George Thorogood and the Destroyers offers a dozen tracks that cleanse the church of rock'n'roll of all but its most basic elements: guitar, bass, drums, and a pile of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Rolling Stone licks. Delaware's George Thorogood has never quite captured his wildman live presence in the studio, but having all his best material gathered on one disc -- including "Bad to the Bone," "Move It on Over," and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" -- makes for a great party. Steve Morse's liner notes are brief but, like the songs, get right to the point ... cut to the bone, you might say.